Wetting mechanism for a textile yarn processing machine

ABSTRACT

In a textile yarn processing machine, such as a twister, spinning frame or the like, having a spindle assembly for the processing of yarn which includes a carrier mechanism having a carrier member for supporting thereon a hollow supply package of yarn to be processed and a hollow yarn entry tube carried within said carrier member and extending outwardly therefrom axially of the supply package supported thereon for receiving the yarn from the supply package and providing a passageway for the yarn therethrough for processing by the spindle assembly; the improvement of a yarn wetting mechanism carried by the carrier mechanism for applying a wetting agent to the yarn as it passes in its path of travel from the supply package for processing by the spindle assembly. The wetting mechanism includes a reservoir carrying a supply of wetting agent and a porous, firm, elongate, wetting member having absorbent and capillary qualities. One end of the wetting member is positioned within the reservoir and in contact with the wetting agent for absorbing the wetting agent and passing the wetting agent by capillary action to the other end of the wetting member which is positioned away from the reservoir and in the path of travel of the yarn from the supply package to the yarn entry tube. The other end of the wetting member is in the form of a solid of revolution for contact with the traveling yarn for applying the wetting agent thereto.

United States Patent [191 Beymes et al.

[451 Feb. 11, 1975 WETTING MECHANISM FOR A TEXTILE YARN PROCESSING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Johannes Frentzel Beymes,

Monchengladbach; Christoph Quast, Moers, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Palitex Project Company GmbI-I,

Krefeld, Germany 221 Filed: Oct. 18, 1973 211 App]. No.: 407,616

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 5, 1973 Germany 2317053 Aug. 22, 1973 Germany 2342284 [52] U.S. Cl 57/35, 57/58.49, 57/58.83 [51] Int. Cl. D0lh l/l0, DOlh 13/30 [58] Field of Search 57/35, 164, 58.49, 58.52, 57/58.65, 58.7, 58.72, 58.83, 58.84, 58.86

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,159,962 12/1964 Franzen 57/58.49 3,222,857 12/1965 Keyser.... 57/35 3,295,305 l/1967 Nimtz 57/35 X 3,400,528 9/1968 Nimtz et al. 57/35 3,423,922 1/1969 Smith 3,563,019 2/1971 Greive et a1. 57/35 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 594,542 3/1934 Germany 57/58.49 753,354 7/1956 Great Britain 57/58.83

Primary Examiner.lohn Petrakes Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT In a textile yarn processing machine, such as a twister, spinning frame or the like, having a spindle assembly for the processing of yarn which includes a carrier mechanism having a carrier member for supporting thereon a hollow supply package of yarn to be processed and a hollow yarn entry tube carried within said carrier member and extending outwardly therefrom axially of the supply package supported thereon for receiving the yarn from the supply package and providing a passageway for the yarn therethrough for processing by the spindle assembly; the improvement of a yarn wetting mechanism carried by the carrier mechanism for applying a wetting agent to the yarn as it passes in its path of travel from the supply package for processing by the spindle assembly. The wetting mechanism includes a reservoir carrying a supply of wetting agent and a porous, firm, elongate, wetting member having absorbent and capillary qualities. One end of the wetting member is positioned within the reservoir and in contact with the wetting agent for absorbing the wetting agent and passing the wetting agent by capillary action to the other end of the wetting member which is positioned away from the reservoir and in the path of travel of the yarn from the supply package to the yarn entry tube. The other end of the wetting member is in the form of a solid of revolution for contact with the traveling yarn for applying the wetting agent thereto.

18 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Pmmgnfaal 1 191s sum 10F 5 PATENTEDFEBWBFS ale-64.901

SHEET 3 OF 5 v WETTING MECHANISM FOR A TEXTILE YARN PROCESSING MACHINE This invention relates to the improvement of a yarn wetting mechanism for applying a wetting agent to traveling yarn passing through a spindle assembly of a textile yarn processing machine, such as a twister, spinning frame or the like.

In the processing of yarn in a textile yarn processing machine, such as a twister, spinning frame or the like, it is desirable in many instances to apply a wetting agent to the yarn as it is removed from a supply package for processing in order to render the thread pliable or supple for enhancing the yarn processing operation.

Heretofore, suitable wetting mechanisms, for applying a wetting agent to yarn as it is removed from a supply package for processing through a spindle assembly of a yarn processing machine, have not been available. Prior attempts at supplying such a wetting mechanism have been unsuccessful in the specific construction and operation thereof particularly in the lack of uniformity of the application of the wetting agent to the traveling yarn and the complexity of design, etc.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide an improved wetting mechanism for applying a wetting agent to a traveling yarn as it is removed from a supply package for processing by a spindle assembly of a textile yarn processing machine.

It has been found by this invention that the above object may be accomplished by providing, in a textile yarn processing machine, such as a twister, spinning frame or the like, having a spindle assembly for the processing of yarn which includes a carrier mechanism having a carrier member for supporting thereon a hollow package of yarn to be processed and a hollow yarn entry tube carried within the carrier member andextending outwardly therefrom axially of the supply package supported thereon for receiving the yarn from the supply package and providing a passageway for the yarn therethrough for processing by the spindle assembly; the improvement of a yarn wetting mechanism carried by the carrier mechanism for applying a wetting agent to the yarn as it passes in its path of travel from the supply package for processing by the spindle assembly.

The yarn wetting mechanism comprises a reservoir means carrying a supply of wetting agents, and a porous, firm, elongate, wetting member having absorbent and capillary qualities. One end of the wetting member is positioned within the reservoir means and in contact with the wetting agent for absorbing the wetting agent and passing the wetting agent by capillary action to the other end of the wetting member which is positioned away from the reservoir means and in the path of travel of the yarn from the supply package to the yarn entry tube. The other end of the wetting member comprises a solid of revolution for contact with the traveling yarn for applying the wetting agent thereto.

Preferably, the wetting member comprises a sintered material formed of substantially spherical particles or granules. It has been found by this invention that the sintered material may include a highly-porous plastic base material, preferably a low-pressure polyethelyne which, in fine-grained form with substantially spherical particle shape, has been subjected to a sintering operation. Also, the material may comprise sintered bronze or chrome-nickel-steel base material. Additionally, it has been found that balsa wood is an acceptable material for the wetting member.

It has been found preferable for the wetting member to comprise a hollow member surrounding the yarn entry tube for contact by the yarn as it passes from the supply package into the yarn entry tube. The one end of the wetting member positioned within the reservoir means may comprise an annular extension from the solid of revolution which surrounds and is spaced from the yarn entry tube. However, the one end may, on the other hand, comprise webs or bars extending from the solid of revolution.

The one end of the wetting member positioned within the reservoir may include an outer layer of cladding material around an upper portion thereof which is impervious to the wetting agent so that only a lower portion thereof absorbs the wetting agent and the absorbed quantity of wetting agent does not vary with a change in the amount of wetting agent in the reservoir.

Preferably, the one end of the wetting member comprising the solid of revolution has an outer generally spherical shape to give adequate length of contact between the wetting member and the traveling yarn for applying a desired amount of wetting agent to the traveling yarn.

In one form of the invention, the carrier member includes an axially extending opening in the upper end thereof and the reservoir means is mounted in the opening and supported by the carrier member.

In another form of the invention, the wetting member is carried by and supported on the reservoir, the reservoir is carried by and supported on the yarn entry tube and the reservoir is of substantially truncated, cone shape having an upwardly-tapering configuration and cross-section for accommodating a greater supply of wettingagent.

Either of the above forms of the invention may include means mounting the wetting member for adjusting the axial positions thereof relative to the supply package of yarn for varying the length of contact between the wetting member and the traveling yarn for applying desired amounts of wetting agent to the traveling yarn.

Another form of the invention may include the one end of the wetting member comprising the solid of revolution projecting outwardly from the yarn entry tube and including a rotation-symmetrical opening there- -through for receiving and allowing passage of the traveling yarn into the yarn entry tube. The inner periphery of the opening is convex and inwardly bulging in crosssection forcontact therewith by the traveling yarn to apply a desired amount of wetting agent to the traveling yarn. In this embodiment, it has been found preferable to include cladding means which is impervious to the wetting agent and which surrounds the outer face of the one end of the wetting agent for permitting the application of wetting agent to the traveling yarn only at the inner periphery of the opening in the wetting member.

Some of the objects and advantages of this invention having been stated, other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is aperspective view, partially broken away, of-a portion of one spindle assembly of a textile yarn processing machine utilizing the improved yarn wetting mechanism of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, of a variation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial elevational view, broken away, of the top portion of the wetting mechanism;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a modifled embodiment of wetting mechanism in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 5 illustrating a variation of the embodiment of the wetting mechanism of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view, in section, of the means for varying the radial position of the wetting member of the embodiment of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partly is section, of another modified embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1, a schematic, perspective view ofa single spindle assembly station, generally indicated at 10, of a twofor-one twister yarn processing machine. It is to be understood, that a plurality of these spindle assembly stations are provided in which the spindle assembly stations are arranged in side-by-side relationship in two rows along the outsides of the machine. A full illustration and description of the entire two-for-one twister is not given herein and is not believed to be necessary for an understanding of the present invention, the operation and structure of such a two-for-one twister being well understood by those with ordinary skill in the art. While the drawings and specific description to follow will be related to a two-for-one twister which is the preferred yarn processing machine utilizing the improved mechanisms of this invention, it is to be understood that the improvements of this invention could also be utilized on other yarn processing machines.

Each of the spindle assemblies 10, which are conventionally mounted in side-by-side relationship in a two for-one yarn processing machine, comprises a rotatably driven rotor mechanism, generally indicated at 11, which includes a whorl portion 12 suitably rotatably mounted on a portion of the twister frame 13 and rotated by a continuous, tangential, drive belt 14 in a manner well understood by those with ordinary skill in the art. Tension rolls 15 are associated with each spindle assembly and are pivotally mounted for engaging and holding the belt 14 in tight driving engagement with the whorl portion 12 for normal rotation of the rotor mechanism 11 of the spindle assembly 10. The tension rolls are conventionally movable to a second position for holding the drive belt 14 in loose engagement with the whorl portion 12 for allowing stopping of the rotor mechanism 11 of the spindle assembly 10. The rotor mechanism 11 further includes a horizontally extending reserve disc device 16 secured to the whorl 12 for being driven thereby and a generally vertically extending hollow axle device 17 (see FIG. 2). The reserve disc 16 and hollow axle 17 define a vertically extending yarn passageway (not shown) extending through the hollow axle device 17 and a horizontally extending yarn passageway (not shown) extending through and out of the reserve disc device 16.

Spindle assembly 10 further includes a carrier mechanism 18 for carrying a package P of yarn Y and being rotatably mounted on the rotor mechanism 11 so that the rotor mechanism may rotate relative thereto while the carrier mechanism 18 is maintained in stationary position. The carrier mechanism 18 includes a basket device 19 which surrounds the package P of yarn Y. The carrier mechanism 18 also includes a carrier member 28 for supporting thereon the hollow supply package P of yarn Y to be processed and a hollow yarn entry tube 30 carried within the carrier member 28 and extending outwardly therefrom axially ofthe supply package supported thereon for receiving the yarn from the supply package and providing a passageway for the yarn therethrough and into the hollow axle 17 for continued travel and processing by the spindle assembly 10.

The spindle assembly 10 further includes a balloon limitor device 33 surrounding the basket device 19. A yarn guide eyelet 40 is positioned above and in axial alignment with the hollow axle l7 and the yarn entry tube 30. There is further provided a pre-take-up roll 42, a yarn traversing mechanism 43, and a take-up or package roll 44 upon which the yarn Y is wound after being processed or twisted by the spindle assembly 10. The package 44 is rotated by friction drive roll 45.

With the above described mechanisms, the yarn Y passes from the package P and is threaded through the top of yarn entry tube 30, through the vertically extending passageway of hollow axle device 17 and out of the horizontally extending passageway of reserve disc 16. The yarn Y then passes upwardly between the basket device 19 and the balloon limitor 33 to form a balloon of yarn. The yarn Y is then threaded through the yarn guide eyelet 40, over pre-take-up roll 42 and is traversed by traversing mechanism 43 onto the package roll 44 to complete its travel through respective spindle assembly 10. As is well understood by those with ordinary skill in the art, a two-for-one twist is inserted in the yarn during the above noted path of travel.

In accordance with the present invention, a yarn wetting mechanism, generally indicated at 50 is mounted on and carried by the carrier mechanism 18 for applying a wetting agent W to the yarn Y as it passes in its path of travel from the supply package P for processing by the spindle assembly 10 of the yarn processing machine. This wetting mechanism 50 comprises broadly a reservoir 51 carrying a supply of liquid wetting agent W. The wetting mechanism 50 further comprises a porous, firm, elongate, wetting member 52 having absorbent and capillary qualities. One end 53 of the wetting member 52 is positioned within the reservoir 51 and in contact with the wetting agent W for absorbing the wetting agent and passing the wetting agent by capillary action to the other end 54 of the wetting member 52. The other end 54 of the wetting member 52 is positioned away from the reservoir 51 and in the path of travel of the yarn Y from the supply package P to the yarn entry tube 30. The other end 54 of the wetting member 52 comprises or is in the shape of a solid of revolution for providing a surface for contact with the traveling yarn Y for applying the wetting agent W thereto.

A preferred material for the wetting member 52 is a highly porous sintered material made from plastics, sintered fine-grain low-pressure polyethelyne having almost spherical particle shape being, because of its good anti-friction properties in relation to the yarn, especially preferable. A preferred low-pressure polyethelyne sintered material has preferably a density of 0.61 to 0.66 g/cm and a porosity of 27-35%. A sintered material consisting of sintered bronze or nickelchromium-steel base material may be employed. Another material with excellent conveying properties for the wetting agent W which at the same time insures uniform wetting agent transmission to the yarn, is balsa wood. Attention is directed to FIG. 4 of the drawings which illustrates a sintered, spherical particle shape material.

Referring now specifically to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the carrier member 28 is provided with a generally cylindrical shape recess 60 in the upper end thereof and the reservoir 51 is of a generally cylindrical shape which is adapted to fit within and be supported in the recess 60. The reservoir 51 is supported in the recess 60 by shoulders 61 at the upper end of carrier member 28. The reservoir 51 extends out of the carrier member 21 and supports the wetting member along its upper edge thereof by shoulders 62 on the wetting member 52.

The one end 53 of the wetting member 54 extends downwardly and into the wetting agent W in the reservoir 51. This one end 53 of the wetting member 52 may be in the form of an annular extension from the solid of revolution constituting the other end 54 of the wetting member 52 (as shown in FIG. 2) or may constitute a plurality of webs or bars extending down from the other end 54 of the wetting member 52. The annular extension 53 extending into the wetting agent W in the reservoir 51 is positioned in spaced relationship from the sides of the reservoir 51 so as to provide absorbing surfaces for absorbing the wetting agent W and transferring it by capillary action to the other end 54 of the wetting member 52.

Thus it may be seen in the embodiment of FIG. 2, that as the yarn Y passes from the supply package P and into the yarn entry tube 30, it will contact the outside surface of the other end 54 of the wetting member 52 which is in the shape of a solid of revolution and preferably has an outer generally spherical shape to give adequate length of contact between the wetting member 52 and the traveling yarn Y for applying a desired amount of wetting agent W to the traveling yarn.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the yarn wetting mechanism 50 of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of FIG. 2, except as follows. The reservoir 51 includes external threading means 70 thereon and the recess 60 is provided with a threading member 71 which is constructed to mate with the threading means 70 on the external surface of the reservoir 51 so that the reservoir 51 may be threaded into the recess 60 of the carrier member 28. The wetting member 54 and reservoir 51 are thereby axially adjustable for adjusting the relative position of the wetting member 54 with respect to the supply package P of yarn Y to vary the length of contact between the traveling yarn Y and the wetting member 54 for applying desired amounts of wetting agent W to the traveling yarn Y depending upon the type of yarn Y being processed by the twister.

In this embodiment of FIG. 3, and in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the outside surface of the other end 54 of the wetting member 52 which contacts the traveling yarn Y, has an outer generally spherical shape to give adequate length of contact between the wetting member 52 and the traveling yarn Y.

Referring now to the specific embodiment of FIG. 5, the reservoir 51 is supported directly on the portion of the yarn entry tube extending axially out of the carrier member 28 and package P by an annular flange member 80 carried by the yarn entry tube 30 and supporting the reservoir 51 at shoulder portions 81 formed in a recess 82 in the underside of the reservoir 51. Again, the wetting member 52 is supported on the reservoir 51 by shoulders 62 on the wetting member 52, similar to the embodiments previously described.

In this embodiment of FIG. 5, the reservoir 51 is of substantially truncated, cone shape having an upwardly-tapering configuration in cross-section for accommodating a greater supply of wetting agent W. A twisting arm 83 is provided for guiding the yarn Y from the supply package P for contact with the outside surface of the other end 54 of the wetting member 52. Otherwise, the features described with respect to the previous figures of the drawings may be incorporated with respect to this embodiment of FIG. 5.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 is substantially the same as that of FIG. 5 except that means are provided for varying the axial position of the wetting member 52 with respect to the package P of yarn Y for varying the length of contact between the wetting member 52 and the traveling yarn Y for applying desired, varying amounts of wetting agent W to the traveling yarn Y depending upon the type of yarn Y being processed by the twister.

In this embodiment of FIG. 6, the annular flange of FIG. 5 is replaced by several mutually offset outwardly projecting shoulders 85, 86, 87 (see also FIG. 7) the upper edges of which are at different height levels. Also, in the recess 82 of reservoir 51, there is provided an inwardly facing abutment 88 which, in the setting shown in FIG. 6, is supported on the shoulder 87 causing the other end 54 of the wetting member 52 to occupy an upper position. This also causes the yarn Y to be in contact with the other end 54 of the wetting member 52 a longer period of time. By rotating the reservoir 52, the shoulder 88 will come into contact with one ofthe other shoulders 85, 86 to lower the position of the other end 54 of the wetting member 52 to reduce the length of time in which the yarn Y is in contact with the wetting member 52. This permits the matching of the effective length'of contact between the yarn Y and the other end 54 of the wetting'member 52 with the various kinds of yarn for applying the desired amount of wetting agent W thereto.

Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the one end 53 of the wetting member 52, which may comprise an annular extension, is covered with outer layers 90 and 91 of cladding material around an upper portion thereof which is impervious to the wetting agent W so that only a lower portion of the one end 53 of the wetting member 52 absorbs the wetting agent W. This insures that the absorbed quantity of wetting agent does not vary with a change in the amount or the level of the wetting agent W in the reservoir 52. This feature may also be incorporated with any of the other embodiments of the wetting mechanism 50 of this invention.

Referring now to the embodient of FIG. 8, the reservoir 51 is mounted and supported on an outer end of the yarn entry tube 30, axially away from the package P of yarn Y, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the contact surface on the wetting member 52 for the yarn Y to absorb the wetting agent W has been moved from the outside of the other end 54 constituting a solid .of revolution to the inner side thereof. In this embodiment, the solid of revolution forming the other end 54 of the wetting member 52 comprises a section projecting above the yarn entry tube 30 with a rotation-symmetrical opening 95 therein for the yarn Y. The generating lines of the inner periphery of this opening 95 are convex and inwardly bulging.

The wetting surface of the wetting member 52 in this embodiment constitutes in effect a direct extension of the yarn entry tube 30.

The outer face of the solid of revolution constituting the other end 54 of the wetting member 52 of this embodiment is preferably covered by a layer of cladding material impervious to the wetting agent for allowing the application of wetting agent only along the surface of the opening 95. This layer of cladding material may constitute a portion of the reservoir 51, as indicated in FIG. 8, or may comprise a layer of plastics or lacquer coating, or the like. The one end of the wetting member 52 of this embodiment of FIG. 8 instead of comprising an annular extension of the solid of revolution constituting the other end 54 of the wetting member 52 comprises a plurality of webs or bars 97 extending from the other end 54 constituting the solid of revolution of the wetting member 52 and may extend angularly outwardly to insure contact with the wetting agent W in the reservoir 51 along all of its outer periphery. These webs or bars 97 may be clad with an outer layer of cladding material impervious to the wetting agent W along an upper portion thereof, as discussed above in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 6 for the reasons set forth with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 6.

It is to be understood that various features of this invention have been illustrated in the drawings and described above with respect to certain embodiments of the invention; however, any of these features may be used in connection with any of the embodiments and features of one embodiment may be used with features or another embodiment.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of this invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:

I. In a textile yarn processing machine, such as a twister, spinning frame or the like, having a spindleassembly for the processing of yarn which includes a carrier mechanism having a carrier member for supporting thereon a hollow supply package of yarn to be processed and a hollow yarn entry tube carried within said carrier member and extending outwardly therefrom axially of the supply package supported thereon for receiving the yarn from the supply package and providing a passageway for the yarn therethrough for processing by said spindle assembly; the improvement of a nonflexible, yarn wetting mechanism carried by said carrier mechanism for applying a wetting agent to the yarn as it passes in its path of travel from the supply package for processing by said spindle assembly, said yarn wetting mechanism comprising:

a reservoir means carrying a supply of wetting agent;

and

a porous, firm, non-flexible, elongate wetting member having absorbent and capillary qualities, one integral, non-flexible end of said wetting member being positioned within said reservoir means and in contact with the wetting agent for absorbing the wetting agent and passing the wetting agent by capillary action to the other integral end of said wetting member which is positioned away from said reservoir means and in the path of travel of the yarn from the supply package to said yarn entry tube and which comprises a solid of revolution for contact with the traveling yarn for applying the wetting agent thereto.

2. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 1, in which said wetting member comprises a sintered material formed of substantially spherical particles or granules.

3. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 2, in which said material comprises highlyporous plastic base material.

4. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 3, in which said plastic base material comprises low-pressure polyethelyne which. in fine-grained form with substantially spherical particle shape, has been subjected to a sintering operation.

5. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 2, in which said material comprises sintered bronze.

6. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 2, in which said material comprises chromenickel-steel.

7. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 1, in which said wetting member comprises balsa wood.

8. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 1, in which said wetting member comprises a hollow member surrounding said yarn entry tube for contact by the yarn as it passes from the supply package into said yarn entry tube.

9. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 8, in which said one end of said wetting member positioned within said reservoir means comprises an annular extension from said solid of revolution which surrounds and is spaced from said yarn entry tube.

10. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 9, in which said carrier member includes an axially extending opening in the upper end thereof, and in which said reservoir means is mounted in said opening and supported by said carrier member.

11. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 8, in which said one end of said wetting member comprising said solid of revolution has an outer generally spherical shape to give adequate length of contact between said wetting member and the traveling yarn for applying a desired amount of wetting agent to the traveling yarn.

12. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 11, including means mounting said wetting member for adjusting the axial positions thereof relative to said supply package of yarn for varying the length of contact between said wetting member and the traveling yarn for applying desired amounts of wetting agent to the traveling yarn.

13. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 12, in which said wetting member is carried by and supported on said reservoir means; said carrier member includes an axially-extending, generally cylindrical opening in the upper end thereof; said reservoir means being generally cylindrical and being mounted in said opening and supported by said carrier member; and said means mounting said wetting member for axial adjustment comprises external thread means on said reservoir and matting thread means on said opening of said carrier member.

14. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 12, in which said wetting member is carried by and supported on said reservoir means; said reservoir means being carried by and supported on said yarn entry tube; and said means mounting said wetting member for axial adjustment comprises cooperating, radially-offset, outwardly projecting shoulder means on said yarn entry tube and said reservoir means in which the various shoulder means are selectively engagable with each other to position said reservoir means and wetting member at selected axial positions.

15. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 8, in which said reservoir means is supported on and carried by the end of said yarn entry tube extending outwardly from said carrier member and is of substantially truncated, cone shape having an upwardly-tapering configuration in cross-section for accom yarn entry tube, the inner periphery of said opening being convex and inwardly bulging in cross-section for contact therewith by the traveling yarn to apply a desired amount of wetting agent to the traveling yarn.

17. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 16, including cladding means which is impervious to the wetting agent and which surrounds the outer face of said one end of said wetting member for permitting the application of wetting agent to the traveling yarn only at the inner periphery of said opening in said wetting member.

18. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 1, in which said one end of said wetting member positioned within said reservoir includes an outer layer of cladding material around an upper portion thereof which is impervious to the wetting agent so that only a lower portion thereof absorbs the wetting agent and the absorbed quantity of wetting agent does not vary with a change in the amount of wetting agent in said reservoir means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENE' NO. 3, 864, 901 DATED February 11 1975 INVEN?OR(S' Johannes Frentzel-Beyme et a1 it is certified that eiror appears In the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herett'y' corrected as shown below On the title page, the inventor's name should be "Johannes Frentzel-Beyrne" in accordance with our letter to the Patent Office of December 2, 1974.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of May 1.975.

(SEAL) Attest:

c. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting, Officer and Trademarks 

1. In a textile yarn processing machine, such as a twister, spinning frame or the like, having a spindle assembly for the processing of yarn which includes a carrier mechanism having a carrier member for supporting thereon a hollow supply package of yarn to be processed and a hollow yarn entry tube carried within said carrier member and extending outwardly therefrom axially of the supply package supported thereon for receiving the yarn from the supply package and providing a passageway for the yarn therethrough for processing by said spindle assembly; the improvement of a non-flexible, yarn wetting mechanism carried by said carrier mechanism for applying a wetting agent to the yarn as it passes in its path of travel from the supply package for processing by said spindle assembly, said yarn wetting mechanism comprising: a reservoir means carrying a supply of wetting agent; and a porous, firm, non-flexible, elongate wetting member having absorbent and capillary qualities, one integral, non-flexible end of said wetting member being positioned within said reservoir means and in contact with the wetting agent for absorbing the wetting agent and passing the wetting agent by capillary action to the other integral end of said wetting member which is positioned away from said reservoir means and in the path of travel of the yarn from the supply package to said yarn entry tube and which comprises a solid of revolution for contact with the traveling yarn for applying the wetting agent thereto.
 2. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 1, in which said wetting member comprises a sintered material formed of substantially spherical particles or granules.
 3. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 2, in which said material comprises highly-porous plastic base material.
 4. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 3, in which said plastic base material comprises low-pressure polyethelyne which, in fine-grained form with substantially spherical particle shape, has been subjected to a sintering operation.
 5. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 2, in which said material comprises sintered bronze.
 6. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 2, in which said material comprises chrome-nickel-steel.
 7. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 1, in which said wetting member comprises balsa wood.
 8. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 1, in which said wetting member comprises a hollow member surrounding said yarn entry tube for contact by the yarn as it passes from the supply package into said yarn entry tube.
 9. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 8, in which said one end of said wetting member positioned within said reservoir means Comprises an annular extension from said solid of revolution which surrounds and is spaced from said yarn entry tube.
 10. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 9, in which said carrier member includes an axially extending opening in the upper end thereof, and in which said reservoir means is mounted in said opening and supported by said carrier member.
 11. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 8, in which said one end of said wetting member comprising said solid of revolution has an outer generally spherical shape to give adequate length of contact between said wetting member and the traveling yarn for applying a desired amount of wetting agent to the traveling yarn.
 12. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 11, including means mounting said wetting member for adjusting the axial positions thereof relative to said supply package of yarn for varying the length of contact between said wetting member and the traveling yarn for applying desired amounts of wetting agent to the traveling yarn.
 13. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 12, in which said wetting member is carried by and supported on said reservoir means; said carrier member includes an axially-extending, generally cylindrical opening in the upper end thereof; said reservoir means being generally cylindrical and being mounted in said opening and supported by said carrier member; and said means mounting said wetting member for axial adjustment comprises external thread means on said reservoir and matting thread means on said opening of said carrier member.
 14. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 12, in which said wetting member is carried by and supported on said reservoir means; said reservoir means being carried by and supported on said yarn entry tube; and said means mounting said wetting member for axial adjustment comprises cooperating, radially-offset, outwardly projecting shoulder means on said yarn entry tube and said reservoir means in which the various shoulder means are selectively engagable with each other to position said reservoir means and wetting member at selected axial positions.
 15. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 8, in which said reservoir means is supported on and carried by the end of said yarn entry tube extending outwardly from said carrier member and is of substantially truncated, cone shape having an upwardly-tapering configuration in cross-section for accommodating a greater supply of wetting agent.
 16. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 8, in which said one end of said wetting member comprising said solid of revolution projects outwardly from said yarn entry tube and includes a rotation-symmetrical opening therethrough for receiving and allowing passage of the traveling yarn into said yarn entry tube, the inner periphery of said opening being convex and inwardly bulging in cross-section for contact therewith by the traveling yarn to apply a desired amount of wetting agent to the traveling yarn.
 17. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 16, including cladding means which is impervious to the wetting agent and which surrounds the outer face of said one end of said wetting member for permitting the application of wetting agent to the traveling yarn only at the inner periphery of said opening in said wetting member.
 18. In a textile yarn processing machine, as set forth in claim 1, in which said one end of said wetting member positioned within said reservoir includes an outer layer of cladding material around an upper portion thereof which is impervious to the wetting agent so that only a lower portion thereof absorbs the wetting agent and the absorbed quantity of wetting agent does not vary with a change in the amount of wetting agent in said reservoir means. 